The 2014 New Visual Artists

Every year, Print celebrates the next generation of visual artists. From thousands of talented illustrators, designers and photographers, we choose 20 creatives who are making a splash in the art world and award them the coveted New Visual Artists designation. After all, you can’t buy your way onto our “20 Under 30” list—you must be nominated. The NVAs of 2014 have certainly caught the attention of the industry greats who submitted their names, and we contend that their work will blow you away, too.

These exceptional professionals hail from countries near and far, working in studio apartments and top design firms. They push boundaries, blur creative lines and prove that “older” doesn’t necessarily mean “better.” These superstars join Jessica Walsh, Frank Chimero and all the other hardworking former NVAs whose projects continue to turn heads. We can’t wait to see what they all do next. Learn even more about this year’s NVAs and their work in the April issue of Print.

Sougwen Chung

“My influences are often ‘what’ rather than ‘who.’ I find inspiration in space, time, light, sound and you.”

“Chiaroscuro”; a sculpture called “Exuviae”

A print in a series called “Étude Op. 2: 1-4” that captures themoment before upheaval.

Justin Colt

“I love all my children equally. I couldn’t pick a favorite. Top projects include … work for those who deserve it: friends, family, people who are working really hard on something they believe in.”

Age: 26From: State College, PALives in: New York CityDiscipline & Place of Work: Designer, working for
Milton Glaser/Co-Founder,
The Collected WorksEducation: Penn State; Designer as Entrepreneur program at the School of Visual ArtsWebsite:www.justincolt.comTwitter: @justincolt

Design work for Made Here, a web platform for manufacturing and selling products.

Retail design for Converse.

Sam Wolfe Connelly

Age: 25From: Alexandria, VALives in: New York CityDiscipline & Place of Work: Illustrator/Gallery Artist, self-employedEducation: Savannah College of Art and DesignWebsite: www.samwolfeconnelly.comTwitter: @wolfesclothing

“[In 10 years, I hope to be] doing what I do now—creating new things.”

onnelly captures a particular mood in his work, such as in “Envy.”

Connelly created an atmosphere ofintrigue while also maintaining historical accuracy with his“The Great Gatsby” illustrations for The Folio Society.

A contribution to The Everywhere Project representing Goad’s home state of Oklahoma.

A fictional bottle and cap design for North Coast Brewing.

Richard Gray

Age: 24From: Isle of Wight, EnglandLives in: StockholmDiscipline & Place of Work:
Graphic Designer/Animator, SnaskEducation: University of PlymouthWebsite: www.snask.com
“Between the ages of 20–30, you spend your time figuring out who you are. Between 30–40, you’re trying to prove who you are . So in 10 years, I hope to be proving to people that I’m someone [who] I don’t yet know.”

The papercraft work that Gray completed for The Malmö Festival is among his favorite projects.

Snask organizes the YAY Festival every year. The 2013 visual identity was made by hand and photographed.

Age: 29From: Columbus, OHLives in: BostonDiscipline & Place of Work: Illustrator, working from her own studio in Arlington, MAEducation: University of Cincinnati; Savannah College of Art and DesignWebsite: www.leighguldig.comTwitter: @leighster

“My favorite pieces are the two calendars I recently worked on: National Public Radio and Dellas Graphics Annual Frogfolio.”

An illustration for NPR’s 2014 wall calendar.

Illustration for Orange Coast Magazine

Joe Hollier

“In 10 years, I’d love to be in a position [where] I could make many of my bigger ideas real.”

Illustration “En Charrette” represents an expression used in architecture.

“Zen Garden” artwork used in Wired Italy

Lizzy Showman

Age: 28From: SeattleLives in: Splits time between Seattle and NYCDiscipline & Place of Work:
Graphic Designer/Creative Director, self-employedEducation: School of Visual Arts; University of WashingtonWebsite:www.lshowman.comTwitter: @lizzyshowman

For the Seattle-based restaurant Evergreens, Showman created the identity and range of collateral, including icons, menus and signage. “The identity is designed from the perspective of a top-down view of a salad bowl, and reflective of the chop-to-order mentality,” she says.

“Every project I created in grad school and at Sagmeister & Walsh was an opportunity to look at the creative process from a different angle, giving me the confidence to pursue my own ventures through design.”

A Capaella, an interactive iPad magazine, combines music with editorial content.

Leta Sobierajski

“Whether designed for personal or promotional uses or for client-based projects, each piece presents a process in which multidisciplinary ideas and approaches lead to unexpected results.”

Age: 25From: Jefferson, NYLives in: New York CityDiscipline & Place of Work:
Multidisciplinary Graphic Designer,
working from home studioEducation: Purchase CollegeWebsite:www.letasobierajski.netTwitter: @letasobierajski

“24,” a photo illustration project developed solely in camera with paper, wood, paint and fishing wire.

“2013,” a complex Rube Goldberg–esque typographic poster created to celebrate the arrival of the New Year.